Collective Licensing
We ensure artists, creators, and beneficiaries are fairly compensated for the use of their work. Collective licensing simplifies this process by ensuring you receive royalties for secondary uses of your creations such as the photocopying or scanning of your work.
How DACS supports creators through collective licensing
Through Payback and the Overseas Public Lending Right (PLR), DACS champions fair payment for artists, illustrators, photographers and other visual creators. These collective licensing schemes ensure creators are rewarded when their work is used in publications, on television, or borrowed from libraries internationally.
In 2024, DACS paid out £5.3 million in royalties to artists, estates and their representatives.
Claim Payback royalties through us
Has your work been published in a book, magazine or been shown on TV? You’re probably eligible for Payback royalties, in addition to other copyright royalties you may already have received. Payback covers secondary uses of your works, like photocopying, scanning and cable retransmission.
I know plenty of illustrators and designers that do it every year and some might get £30 and some might get thousands. No matter how much you get, it is all money that you deserve, so go get it!
Great British Bake-Off Illustrator
Receive Public Lending Right royalties from Overseas
The Public Lending Right pays artists for the lending of books featuring their work in public libraries across certain countries. We receive PLR royalties from our German and Dutch sister societies and distribute them to our members who make a claim.
It's good to know that organisations like DACS are aware of this and how things are changing and subsequently pushing rights forward for artists and photographers.
Photographer
Collective Licensing explained
DACS ensures that artists, illustrators, and visual creators are fairly compensated through collective licensing schemes like Payback and Overseas Public Lending Right (PLR), which cover the use of works in books, magazines, TV broadcasts, and library lending In Germany and the Netherlands.
As technology rapidly evolves, we are working to develop innovative collective licensing solutions, so creators are rewarded for their work, regardless of how it is created, shared, or distributed.
Latest news, events and insights
Read about our advocacy, campaigning, events and insights from artists, industry experts and more.
